Akshay Tritiya Today, STOP child marriages

Akshaya Tritiya festival is today known for marriages when you did't require Shubh- Muhurt. On the eve of Akshay Tritiya, police station chiefs in various parts of the state were ordered to take preventive measures to stop child marriages. These stations included Kota, Jhalawar, Baran, Dausa, and Sawai Madhopur. Child marriages are common in these areas. Mobile police teams were formed to keep a tab on the activities in and around villages where this social evil still prevails. Police say fearing detection due to extra vigilance, most parents who want their underage children to get married have chosen other dates within this month. The state government has also set up a state control room in which anyone can give information relating to child marriages.
The state government ordered the district magistrates to move against child marriages, according to a government release on Thursday. “An order has been issued by the department of women and child development that they should include professionals facilitating child marriages (priests, astrologers, decorators etc) in the category of offenders,” an official said. Earlier, the focus was only on family members of the children. The authorities have been asked to conduct meetings in villages to raise awareness on the issue. Meanwhile, police is trying to curb the social evil. Various mobile parties have visited villages in and around Jaipur, including Bassi, Shivdaspura, Kanota and Neendad. There were reports of some child marriages in Uniara (Tonk) while some marriages were organized in Banswara, Pratapgarh districts of the state. However, there were no official confirmation.